Joseph Henry Delaney was an English author, best known for his children’s dark fantasy series, Spook’s, inspired by the folklore, history and geography of Lancashire. The series has been published in 30 countries, achieving sales of over 4.5 million copies.
He was born on 25 July 1945 in Preston, Lancashire, the son of a labourer. He was the oldest of four children. As a child, Delaney had a recurring nightmare where he sat with his mother while she knitted, when, suddenly, a shadowy figure emerged from the coal cellar, picked him up, and carried him into darkness. Delaney attended Preston Catholic College and then worked as an apprentice engineer. He took his A-Levels at night school before studying English, history and sociology as a mature student at Lancaster University, at the age of 27. Following graduation, he studied at St Martin’s College to become a teacher. He later became an English teacher at Blackpool Sixth Form College, where he started the Media and Film Studies Department. In the 1980s Delaney completed an Open University degree in an effort to become a computer programmer. In 1983, he moved to the village of Stalmine, where he learned and noted down that a priest had once encountered a boggart in the area.
Joseph Delaney once said, ‘For years, I wanted to be a writer but from about 1990, when I was first taken on by my agent, Carolyn Whitaker, I started to write more seriously completing one book each year. I was the Head of Film and Media Studies at the Blackpool Sixth Form College and, as most teachers, was exhausted when I got home. My wife was a post lady, getting up for work at 4am each morning. So I decided to get up early too (but not quite that early!). I would write from 6-15am to 7-30am each morning before going to work. At that hour words came easily; especially dialogue.’
Delaney later authored science fiction and fantasy novels under the pen name J. K. Haderack. After struggling to find success as an author of books for adults, Delaney transitioned to writing children’s books under his real name, beginning with the publication of The Spook’s Apprentice, in 2004. The book was widely successful, selling over 3 million copies and winning multiple awards. It has been adapted into a play script, the feature film Seventh Son, and a French graphic novel. The Spook’s Apprentice marked the start of his highly acclaimed Spook’s series, which eventually encompassed 20 books, along with several other works set in the same universe. After the publication of the series’ second book, Delaney retired from teaching to become a full-time writer. Additionally, Delaney published two other series for children: the science fiction and fantasy trilogy Arena 13, and the dark fantasy duology Aberrations.
Delaney’s first works were published under the pen name J. K. Haderack, a reference to the Kwisatz Haderach from Frank Herbert’s Dune universe. After struggling to find success publishing science fiction and fantasy books for adults, his agent encouraged him to try writing for a younger audience to meet the brief of a children’s publisher. To fulfil the requirements of the brief, Delaney wrote a novel based on a story he had first written in 1993, which was inspired by Stalmine’s boggart, as well as the folklore, history and geography of Lancashire. He also drew on his childhood memories and experiences. In 2004, it was published as The Spook’s Apprentice under his real name, becoming the first book of his dark fantasy Spook’s series. The book was widely successful, selling over 3 million copies[8] and winning the Sefton Book Award, Hampshire Book Award and Prix Plaisirs de Lire, as well as being shortlisted for the Lancashire Book of the Year.
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The Spook’s series brought Joseph Delaney international acclaim, following the adventures of Tom Ward, an apprentice to John Gregory, the local Spook, who is tasked with defending the County against the forces of the Dark. The series was published in 30 countries and sold over 4.5 million copies. After the success of the second book, Delaney retired from teaching to write full-time.
Beyond Spook’s, he authored two additional children’s series. From 2015 to 2017, he released the Arena 13 trilogy, a blend of science fiction and fantasy. The story follows Leif, a determined sixteen-year-old who seeks to master the brutal fighting pit, Arena 13, and defeat Hob, the monstrous being who terrorises Midgard City and is responsible for Leif’s family’s death. Between 2018 and 2019, he published Aberrations, a dark fantasy duology centred on Crafty, a boy trapped in the Shole’s mist. Forced to train as a gate grub in the Castle, he must learn to operate portals for the Gatemancers Guild while using his wits to survive.
Delaney cited J. R. R. Tolkien and Frank Herbert as his greatest literary influences. Like Bram Stoker, he often drew inspiration from his dreams and preferred to write without detailed plotting or planning. His passion for storytelling led him to travel widely, frequently visiting New Zealand and Singapore to promote his books—particularly during the winter, as he disliked cold weather. However, Lancashire remained at the heart of his work, with its history and folklore serving as a rich source of inspiration.
Delaney was living in Manchester when he passed away on 16 August 2022 at the age of 77 after a period of illness. He continued writing until the very end, working on Brother Wulf: Wulf’s War, the final instalment of his Brother Wulf series, which was published posthumously in 2023.
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